discrimination

 
Pronunciation: /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex: victims of racial discrimination discrimination against homosexuals
  • 2recognition and understanding of the difference between one thing and another: discrimination between right and wrong [count noun]: young children have difficulties in making fine discriminations
  • the ability to judge what is of high quality; good judgement or taste: those who could afford to buy showed little taste or discrimination
  • Psychology the ability to distinguish between different stimuli: [as modifier]: discrimination learning
  • 3 Electronics the selection of a signal having a required characteristic, such as frequency or amplitude, by means of a discriminator.